Multiple pivoted jaw wrench provided with cam-seated slidable back catch



March 12, 1957 A. G. ADAIR 2,784,629

MULTIPLE PIVOTED JAW WRENCH PROVIDED WITH CAM-SEATED SLIDABLEI BACKCATCH Filed Nov. 2, 1955 .4. 6. ADA/f? INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y United States Patent MULTIPLE PIVOTED JAW WRENCH PROVIDEDWITH CAM-SEATED SLIDABLE BACK CATCH Adolphus G. Adair, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application November 2, 1955, Serial No. 544,496

3 Claims. (Cl. 81-131) This invention relates to hand tools and hasreference to a quick acting wrench for gripping and turning eithercircular or faced objects such as projecting studs or nuts and bolts.

An object of the invention is to provide a wrench adaptable by simpleadjustment to grip objects of various slzes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrench wherein grippingsurfaces may be made to engage an object by quick and easy handmanipulation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wrench of the classdescribed which is tightened about an object as the object is turned bythe wrench.

These and other objects will become apparent from the followingdescription and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a broken side elevation of a Wrench embodying features ofthe invention and showing the same being used to grip a circular objectsuch as a length of pipe.

Figure 2 is an elevation taken at a right angle with respect to Figure1.

Figure 3 is a broken side elevation illustrating the quick adjustmentfeature of the invention.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the plate and cam assembly of theinvention.

Figure 6 is a broken perspective view of the slotted portion in theL-shaped jaw member and showing means for rotating the cam therewith.

The form of the invention shown includes a handle member 10 having anL-shaped jaw 11 on one end thereof and wherein the teeth 12 are inwardlydirected with respect to the length of said handle member. Spaced fromthe jaw 11 and on the same side of the handle member 10 there is ashoulder 13 providing an enlarged portion 14 having an elongatedsubstantially rectangular slot 15 therethrough. The side of the slot 15opposite the extending end of the jaw 11 is provided with teeth 16 whichare inclined toward said jaw. The length of the handle mem ber 10opposite the jaw 11 provides a handle 17, hereinafter referred to.

A second handle member 18 is longitudinally slotted, as at 19, toprovide sides 20 and 21 between which the first described handle member10 is received. One end of the handle member 18 is provided with a jaw22 having outwardly directed teeth 23; that is, the teeth 2-3 areoppositely inclined with respect to the first described teeth 12. Thelength of the handle member 18 opposite the jaw 22 provides a handle 24and which handle includes a portion of the slot 19 for receiving a sideportion of the handle 17 when the tool is in its closed position.

A feature of the invention has to do with an adjusting plate 25 foroperation in the longitudinal rectangular slot 15 in the first describedhandle member 10. The adjusting plate 25 is in the form of a rectangularblock and has teeth 26 along one side thereof for coaction with thepreviously described teeth 16 in the slot 15. The side of the block 25opposite the teeth 26 is provided with an 2,784,629 Patented Mar. 12,1957 arcuate opening 27 which is substantially semicircular and receivesa cam 28 therethrough. As shown in detail in Figure 5, the cam 28 is inthe form of a carriage bolt having a head 29, a square shoulder 30adjacent thereto, a shank 31 and a threaded end 32. One side of theshank is flat, as at 33, which flat area in assembly coincides with theside of the adjusting plate 2:5 when the latter is rotated relativethereto as shown in Figure 3. One side 20 of the handle member 18 isprovided with a square opening 34 for receiving the square shoulder 30of the cam 28, whereas the remaining side 21 of the handle member 18 isprovided with a round opening for receiving the extending shank of saidcam. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, a nut 35 is provided on the threadedend 32 of the cam whereby the two handle members 10 and 18 aremaintained in assembly. The transverse dimension of the adjusting plate25 is sufiiciently less than the transverse dimension of thelongitudinal slot 15 in the first described handle member 10 whereby theteeth 26 in said plate may be caused to disengage the teeth. 16 in saidhandle member when the cam 28 is rotated so as to present its fiatsurface 33 against the adjacent side of said longitudinal slot.

In operation, the handles 17 and 24 are first pivotally moved away fromeach other whereby the jaws 11 and 22 are substantially opened as shown:in Figure 3. While in this position the plate 25 is adjusted to thedesired position in the longitudinal slot 15. Upon partially closing thehandle members 17 and 24 the teeth 26 on the adjusting plate engage theteeth 16 in the slot 15 and thus locate the jaws 17 and 22 relative toeach other. The jaws 11 and 22 then are placed around the work piece 36,after which the wrench is manually operated in a conventional manner.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary construction herein shownand described, but may be made in various ways within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A wrench having two pivotally connected jaws including teeth inopposing jaw surfaces thereof and having handle members extendingtherefrom, an elongated slot in one of said handle members includingaligned rack teeth along one side thereof, an adjusting plate slidablymounted in said slot, said slot having corresponding rack V teeth alongone side thereof arranged to engage the teeth in said slot, and a camsecured to the other said handle member, the rise of said cam arrangedfor coaction with the side of said slot opposite the teeth therein, saidcam being rotatably connected with said adjusting plate.

2. A wrench as defined in claim 1, wherein one said handle member islongitudinally slotted and receives the other said handle membertherein, said elongated slot being within the last said handle memberand said adjusting plate is slidably mounted in this slot.

3. A wrench as defined in claim 2, wherein said cam construction is inthe form of a bolt having a fiat surface on the circumference of theshank thereof and wherein said bolt is secured against rotation relativeto the handle member which is slotted longitudinally.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS484,307 Fields et al Oct. 11, 1892 722,483 Boyd Mar. 10, 1903 1,434,911Mutchmor Nov. 7, 1922 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,262 Great Britain of 1907282,149 Germany Feb. 16, 191; 69,565 Sweden May 27, 1930' 494,078 GreatBritain Oct. 19, 1938

